PhilRice forms Climate Change Center for farmers

As part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has created a hub to plan and implement climate change management for rice farming.

The Climate Change Center (CCC) will conduct studies on understanding, impact assessment, and cushioning the effects of climate change to the rice industry.

Ricardo Orge, CCC director and chief of the Coping with Climate Change program, said the center will help farmers adapt to extreme climate changes.

“The effects of climate change can be felt now more than ever, especially in the heels of an anticipated El Niño phenomenon. Our vision at the CCC is to have a climate-resilient farming system where enough food will become available to every farming household particularly during adversities and calamities,” he said.

The CCC was created in compliance with the DA’s Seven-Wide Programs on Climate Change (DA-SWPCC) approved last year by Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala to synchronize all efforts of DA bureaus and attached offices in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Orge said the CCC is composed of agronomists, plant pathologists, engineers, social scientists, communication specialists and other rice researchers who study recent climate patterns and their effects to rice farming.

“The CCC is expected to complement major PhilRice programs such as coping with climate change, farming without fossil fuel energy, integrated rice-based agri-biosystems and other projects that concern climate-resiliency,” he explained.

The center will study other sources of food and income for affected farmers.